Epigenetic Modification Can Regulate the Stem Cell State of Hematopoietic Cells.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1356-1356
Author(s):  
Il-Hoan Oh ◽  
Hye-Jung Kim ◽  
Yun Shin Chung
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Hematopoietic Cells ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
Marrow Cells

Abstract The maintenance of undifferentiated state and ability for self-renewal constitutes key properties of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). To explore the possibility that epigenetic modification contributes to regulation of HSC functions, we have studied whether distinctive epigenetic modification can be correlated to different functions of hematopoietic cells. As a first approach, the global DNA methylations in non-coding repetitive elements were examined using mIAP, mEtn, and mc.satellite regions as marker loci. Sequencing of sodium bisulfite-modified CpG islands in these loci showed that most primitive Lin-c-kit+CD34− cells displayed highest level of DNA methylation as compared to the progenitor-enriched Lin-c-kit+CD34+ cells or differentiated counterpart (Lin+ cells) in mc satellite regions (85.7%, 60 %, 65%, respectively) and mEtn regions (73%, 58%, 74%, respectively), but not in mIAP region. Interestingly, whereas most primitive Lin-c-kit+CD34− cells expressed highest level of methyl cytosine binding protein (MeCp2) or DNA methyl transferase 3 (DNMT3a, 3b), the Lin+ cells expressed bare to minimal level of these gene products despite their high maintenance of DNA methylation, suggesting a differential de-novo methylations between these cells. Similarly, the most primitive Lin-c-kit+CD34− cells exhibited highest level of total acetylated histone (Ac-H4) but these cells expressed also high levels of histone deacetylase (HDAC) as well as histone acetyl transferase (HAT). Subsequent pulse-labeling with C14-acetate demonstrated that immature bone marrow cells (lin-), but not mature Lin+ cells, exhibited active acetylation of H4 with higher turn-overs, thus showing active remodeling of chromatin structures in immature hematopoietic cells. Next, to explore whether alterations in epigenetic modification could influence HSC function, the effect of epigenetic blockers (5-Azacytidine or TSA) were examined for their influence on in-vivo self-renewing activity of transplanted HSCs. Thus, recipients that had been lethally irradiated and transplanted with congeneic HSCs were treated with blockers during first two weeks of recovery, and transplanted into secondary recipients 18 weeks later to determine CRU numbers regenerated. The result of this CRU assay revealed that HSCs had underwent 32-folds higher self-renewal with inhibition of HDAC (22 vs. 738 CRUs), and 11-folds higher self-renewal with inhibition of DNA methylation (22 vs. 248 CRUs) showing that self-renewing potential of “stimulated” HSC is regulated by epigenetic modification. Next, to see if stem cell fate can be also influenced by epigenetic reprogramming, the effects of epigenetic blockers during “stationary” phase of hematopoiesis were examined by treating donor mice with epigenetic blockers for 3 weeks before sacrifice. Limiting dilution transplantation of these marrows revealed that the CRU frequencies in the treated (5-Azacytidine + TSA) donor marrows were 7-folds higher compared to the un-treated donor marrow cells (1/22,9000 vs. 1/3000) in the absence of increase in total marrow cell numbers, suggesting de-novo generation of CRUs with epigenetic manipulations. Taken together, these results show that the epigenetic modification should be an important regulatory mechanism for self-renewal and fate decisions for normal HSCs in-vivo.

DNMT3b’s Role in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Self-Renewal.

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 1406-1406
Author(s):  
Matthew J Boyer ◽  
Feng Xu ◽  
Hui Yu ◽  
Tao Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Bone Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Marrow Transplantation ◽  
Bone Marrow Cells ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Marrow Cells

Abstract DNA methylation is an epigenetic means of gene regulation and is carried out by a family of methyltransferases of which DNMT1 acts to maintain methylation marks following DNA replication and DNMT3a and DNMT3b methylate DNA de novo. DNMT3b has been shown to be essential for mammalian development and necessary for differentiation of germline and neural progenitor cells. Mutations of DNMT3b in humans lead to a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, and facial abnormalities. We have shown by real-time, RT-PCR that DNMT3b mRNA is uniquely over-expressed by approximately 30-fold in immunophenotypically-defined longterm repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that are CD34−lineage−c-kit+Sca-1+ as compared to progenitor and differentiated cell types within the bone marrow and with respect to the other members of the DNMT family, namely DNMT1 and DNMT3a. To determine DNMT3b’s function in HSCs competitive bone marrow transplantation was undertaken. Isolated lineage− enriched bone marrow cells were transduced with a retroviral backbone based on the Murine Stem Cell Virus (MSCV) carrying either GFP and a short, hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting DNMT3b or GFP alone. Following transduction 1×105 GFP+ cells along with 1×105 competitor cells were transplanted into 9.5 Gray irradiated congenic recipients. Two months following transplantation mice receiving bone marrow cells transduced with DNMT3b shRNA showed a significantly lower engraftment of donor cells as a percentage of total competitor cell engraftment in the peripheral blood as compared to those receiving cells transduced with GFP alone (24.8 vs 3.7, p<0.05) which persisted at 3 months (22.8 vs 1.5, p<0.05). Similarly, within the donor derviced cells in the peripheral blood there was a lower percentage of myeloid (CD11b+) cells at 2 and 3 months in the recipients of DNMT3b shRNA transduced cells as compared to controls. However there was no observed difference in the percentage of peripheral B (CD45R+) or T (CD3+) cells within the donor-derived cells. To determine the mechanism behind the observed engraftment defect with DNMT3b knockdown we cultured GFP+ transduced bone marrow cells in vitro with minimal cytokine support. As a control for our targeting methodology we also transduced bone marrow cells from mice harboring two floxed DNMT3b alleles with a MSCV carrying Cre recombinase and GFP. While lineage− bone marrow cells transduced with GFP alone increased 10-fold in number over two weeks of culture, cells in which DNMT3b was down regulated by shRNA or Cre-mediated recombination only doubled. Culture of lineage− bone marrow cells in methylcellulose medium by the colony-forming cell (CFC) assay revealed increases in the granulocytic and total number of colonies with DNMT3b knockdown or Cre-mediated recombination of DNMT3b similar to the increased myeloid engraftment of DNMT3b shRNA transduced cells observed 1 month following competitive bone marrow transplantation. However when 5,000 of these cells from the first CFC assay were sub-cultured there was a significant loss of colony forming ability within all lineages when DNMT3b was targeted by shRNA or Cre-mediated recombination. Taken together with the decreased engraftment of DNMT3b shRNA cells following competitive bone marrow transplantation, the observed limited proliferation in liquid culture and loss of colony forming ability during serial CFC assays is suggestive of a self-renewal defect of HSCs in the absence of DNMT3b, that was previously only reported in the absence of both DNMT3a and DNMT3b. Further elucidation of this proposed self-renewal defect is being undertaken and results of ongoing studies including long-term culture initiating cell (LTC-IC) assays and identification of genomic sites of DNA methylation within different hematopoietic subsets will also be presented.

Immobilized Thrombopoietin (TPO) Lipopeptide Mimic Supports Similar Signaling and CD34+ Cell Differentiation as Soluble TPO.

Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3150-3150
Author(s):  
Shara M. Dellatore ◽  
James A. King ◽  
Tor W. Jensen ◽  
Bi-Huang Hu ◽  
Phillip B. Messersmith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Adhesion ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Lipid Monolayer ◽  
Adherent Cells ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
Defined Culture

Abstract Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) would greatly facilitate cell and gene therapies. However, HSC division in culture is associated with differentiation. This contrasts with sustained HSC expansion in vivo, and has led to the hypothesis that a stem cell niche supports self-renewal. It is likely that multiple aspects of the niche will have to be mimicked to substantially enhance HSC self-renewal. We are developing a defined culture surface for the presentation of cytokines and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) ligands that are thought to be in the HSC niche. Peptide mimics of CAM ligands and cytokines conjugated to dipalmitoyl glycerol via a polyethylene glycol tether are incorporated into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles and deposited onto a hydrophobic surface to create a lipid monolayer. We have previously shown that this system effectively presents adhesive peptide ligands (Jensen et al., JACS 126:15223, 2004). The strategy for immobilizing lipopeptides has been extended to the presentation of a peptide mimetic for the hematopoietic growth factor thrombopoietin (TPO). The lipopeptide mimetic of TPO is based on the branched dimer mimic (TPOm) developed by Cwirla et al. (Science 276:1696, 1997). We have synthesized two versions of TPOm lipopeptide, the first linked to a lipid at both of the amine termini (TPOm-2L) and the second is linked by a single lipid at the carboxy terminus (TPOm-1L). This immobilization strategy does not interfere with the bioactivity of the TPOm as evidenced by cell adhesion and signaling assays. Adhesion was measured with a normal force assay at 30g using the TPO-responsive M07e cell line. We observed a dose-dependent increase in adhesion, with <5% adherent cells for DPPC surfaces and a plateau of ~70% adherent cells at 1.0 mol% TPOm-1L. There was much less adhesion to TPOm-2L (a maximum of ~25% adhesion). Selective adhesion to the TPOm lipopeptides persisted after 6 days of culture, both in the presence and absence of serum. Culture surfaces with TPOm lipopeptides elicit similar M07e cell signaling response kinetics via the ERK1,2 and STAT5 pathways as compared to soluble TPOm and recombinant human TPO (rhTPO). It is interesting that surface presentation of TPOm synergizes more extensively with stem cell factor (SCF) for the activation of STAT5 than does soluble TPOm. Experiments with bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells show that surfaces incorporating TPOm-2L supplemented with SCF and flt-3 ligand (FL) support similar overall expansion and protection from apoptosis as controls of soluble TPOm or rhTPO with SCF and FL. Further, there was no difference in the ability of TPOm to retain CD34+ cells or CD34+Thy1+ cells. Also, BM CD34+ cell cultures supplemented with TPOm-1L alone supported similar megakaryocyte maturation, evidenced by the appearance of polyploid CD41+ cells after 9 and 12 days of culture, as those supplemented with soluble TPOm. An advantage of this presentation strategy is the potential to save on cytokines during long-term culture. Feeding cultures stimulated by TPOm lipopeptides requires only exchange of basal media. In summary, we have developed a method to present immobilized TPOm in an active conformation that supports cell adhesion and signaling as well as the expansion and differentiation of CD34+ cells.

scholarly journals A Stemness Screen Reveals C3ORF54/INKA1 As a Gate-Keeper of Human Stem Cell Latency

Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 325-325
Author(s):  
Kerstin B. Kaufmann ◽  
Laura Garcia Prat ◽  
Shin-Ichiro Takayanagi ◽  
Jessica McLeod ◽  
Olga I. Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Post Transplantation ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cd34 Cells

Abstract The controversy generated from recent murine studies as to whether hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) contribute to steady-state hematopoiesis emphasizes how limited our knowledge is of the mechanisms governing HSC self-renewal, activation and latency; a problem most acute in the study of human HSC and leukemia stem cells (LSC). Many hallmark stem cell properties are shared by HSC and LSC and therefore a better understanding of stemness regulation is crucial to improved HSC therapies and leukemia treatments targeting LSC. Our previous work on LSC subsets from >80 AML patient samples revealed that HSC and LSC share a transcriptional network that represent the core elements of stemness (Eppert, Nature Med 2011; Ng, Nature 2016). Hence, to identify the key regulators of LSC/HSC self-renewal and persistence we selected 64 candidate genes based on expression in functionally validated LSC vs. non-LSC fractions and assessed their potential to enhance self-renewal in a competitive in vivo screen. Here, we transduced cord blood CD34+CD38- cells with 64 barcoded lentiviral vectors to assemble 16 pools, each consisting of 8 individual gene-transduced populations, for transplantation into NSG mice. Strikingly, individual overexpression (OE) of 5 high scoring candidates revealed delayed repopulation kinetics of human HSC/progenitor cells (HSPC): gene-marking of human CD45+ and lin-CD34+ cells was reduced relative to input and control at 4w post transplantation, whereas by 20w engraftment of marked cells reached or exceeded input levels. For one of these candidates, C3ORF54/INKA1, we found that OE did not alter lineage composition neither in in vitro nor in vivo assays but increased the proportion of primitive CD34+ cells at 20w in vivo; moreover, secondary transplantation revealed a 4.5-fold increase in HSC frequency. Of note, serial transplantation from earlier time points (2w, 4w) revealed superior engraftment and hence greater self-renewal capacity upon INKA1-OE. Since we observed a 4-fold increase of phenotypic multipotent progenitors (MPP) relative to HSC within the CD34+ compartment (20w) we assessed whether INKA1-OE acts selectively on either cell population. The observation of latency in engraftment was recapitulated with sorted INKA1-OE HSC but not MPP. Likewise, liquid culture of HSPC and CFU-C assays on sorted HSC showed an initial delay in activation and colony formation upon INKA1-OE that was completely restored by extended culture and secondary CFU-C, respectively. INKA1-OE MPP showed a slight increase in total colony count in primary CFU-C and increased CDK6 levels in contrast to reduced CDK6 levels in INKA1-OE HSC emphasizing opposing effects of INKA1 on cell cycle entry and progression in either population. Taken together, this suggests that INKA1-OE preserves self-renewal capacity by retaining HSC preferentially in a latent state, however, upon transition to MPP leads to enhanced activation. Whilst INKA1 has been described as an inhibitor of p21(Cdc42/Rac)-activated kinase 4 (PAK4), no role for PAK4 is described in hematopoiesis. Nonetheless, its regulator Cdc42 is implicated in aging of murine HSPC by affecting H4K16 acetylation (H4K16ac) levels and polarity and has recently been described to regulate AML cell polarity and division symmetry. In our experiments immunostaining of HSPC subsets cultured in vitro and from xenografts indicates that INKA1-OE differentially affects epigenetics of these subsets linking H4K16ac to the regulation of stem cell latency. In AML, transcriptional upregulation of INKA1 in LSC vs. non-LSC fractions and at relapse in paired diagnosis-relapse analysis (Shlush, Nature 2017) implicates INKA1 as a regulator of LSC self-renewal and persistence. Indeed, INKA1-OE in cells derived from a primary human AML sample (8227) with a phenotypic and functional hierarchy (Lechman, Cancer Cell 2016) revealed a strong latency phenotype: In vitro and in vivo we observed label retention along with a steady increase in percentage of CD34+ cells, transient differentiation block, reduced growth rate, G0 accumulation and global reduction of H4K16ac. In summary, our data implicates INKA1 as a gate-keeper of stem cell latency in normal human hematopoiesis and leukemia. Studying the detailed pathways involved will shed light upon the mechanisms involved in HSC activation and latency induction and will help to harness these for novel therapeutic approaches. Disclosures Takayanagi: Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.: Employment.

scholarly journals De novo DNA methyltransferase is essential for self-renewal, but not for differentiation, in hematopoietic stem cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (4) ◽  
pp. 715-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Tadokoro ◽  
Hideo Ema ◽  
Masaki Okano ◽  
En Li ◽  
Hiromitsu Nakauchi
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Stem Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Dna Methyltransferases ◽  
Mouse Bone Marrow ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification essential for development. The DNA methyltransferases Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b execute de novo DNA methylation in gastrulating embryos and differentiating germline cells. It has been assumed that these enzymes generally play a role in regulating cell differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the role of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in adult stem cells. CD34−/low, c-Kit+, Sca-1+, lineage marker− (CD34− KSL) cells, a fraction of mouse bone marrow cells highly enriched in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), expressed both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. Using retroviral Cre gene transduction, we conditionally disrupted Dnmt3a, Dnmt3b, or both Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b (Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b) in CD34− KSL cells purified from mice in which the functional domains of these genes are flanked by two loxP sites. We found that Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b function as de novo DNA methyltransferases during differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Unexpectedly, in vitro colony assays and in vivo transplantation assays showed that both myeloid and lymphoid lineage differentiation potentials were maintained in Dnmt3a-, Dnmt3b-, and Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs. However, Dnmt3a/Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs, but not Dnmt3a- or Dnmt3b-deficient HSCs, were incapable of long-term reconstitution in transplantation assays. These findings establish a critical role for DNA methylation by Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b in HSC self-renewal.

scholarly journals Isolation in a single step of a highly enriched murine hematopoietic stem cell population with competitive long-term repopulating ability

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 930-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
SJ Szilvassy ◽  
PM Lansdorp ◽  
RK Humphries ◽  
AC Eaves ◽  
CJ Eaves
Keyword(s):  
Simple Procedure ◽  
Hematopoietic Cells ◽  
Stem Cell Population ◽  
Proliferative Potential ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Marrow Cells

Abstract A simple procedure is described for the quantitation and enrichment of murine hematopoietic cells with the capacity for long-term repopulation of lymphoid and myeloid tissues in lethally irradiated mice. To ensure detection of the most primitive marrow cells with this potential, we used a competitive assay in which female recipients were injected with male “test” cells and 1 to 2 x 10(5) “compromised” female marrow cells with normal short-term repopulating ability, but whose long-term repopulating ability had been reduced by serial transplantation. Primitive hematopoietic cells were purified by flow cytometry and sorting based on their forward and orthogonal light-scattering properties, and Thy-1 and H-2K antigen expression. Enrichment profiles for normal marrow, and marrow of mice injected with 5-fluorouracil (5- FU) four days previously, were established for each of these parameters using an in vitro assay for high proliferative potential, pluripotent colony-forming cells. When all four parameters were gated simultaneously, these clonogenic cells were enriched 100-fold. Both day 9 and day 12 CFU-S were copurified; however, the purity (23%) and enrichment (75-fold) of day 12 CFU-S in the sorted population was greater with 5-FU-treated cells. Five hundred of the sorted 5-FU marrow cells consistently repopulated recipient lymphoid and myeloid tissues (greater than 50% male, 1 to 3 months post-transplant) when co-injected with 1 to 2 x 10(5) compromised female marrow cells, and approximately 100 were sufficient to achieve the same result in 50% of recipients under the same conditions. This relatively simple purification and assay strategy should facilitate further analysis of the heterogeneity and regulation of stem cells that maintain hematopoiesis in vivo.

scholarly journals In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence That Ex Vivo Cytokine Priming of Donor Marrow Cells May Ameliorate Posttransplant Thrombocytopenia

Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 353-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Z. Ratajczak ◽  
Janina Ratajczak ◽  
Boguslaw Machalinski ◽  
Rosemarie Mick ◽  
Alan M. Gewirtz
Keyword(s):  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Platelet Recovery ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
Cd34 Cells ◽  
In Vivo Animal Model ◽  
Marrow Cells

AbstractThrombocytopenia is typically observed in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We hypothesized that delayed platelet count recovery might be ameliorated by increasing the number of megakaryocyte colony- forming units (CFU-Meg) in the hematopoietic cell graft. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated cytokine combinations and culture medium potentially useful for expanding CFU-Meg in vitro. We then examined the ability of expanded cells to accelerate platelet recovery in an animal transplant model. Depending on the cytokine combination used, we found that culturing marrow CD34+cells for 7 to 10 days in serum-free cultures was able to expand CFU-Meg ∼40 to 80 times over input number. Shorter incubation periods were also found to be effective and when CD34+ cells were exposed to thrombopoietin (TPO), kit ligand (KL), interleukin-1α (IL-1α), and IL-3 in serum-free cultures for as few as 48 hours, the number of assayable CFU-Meg was still increased ∼threefold over input number. Of interest, cytokine primed marrow cells were also found to form colonies in vitro more quickly than unprimed cells. The potential clinical utility of this short-term expansion strategy was subsequently tested in an in vivo animal model. Lethally irradiated Balb-C mice were transplanted with previously frozen syngeneic marrow mononuclear cells (106/mouse), one tenth of which (105) had been primed with [TPO, KL, IL-1a, and IL-3] under serum-free conditions for 36 hours before cryopreservation. Mice receiving the primed frozen marrow cells recovered their platelet and neutrophil counts 3 to 5 days earlier than mice transplanted with unprimed cells. Mice which received marrow cells that had been primed after thawing but before transplantation had similar recovery kinetics. We conclude that pretransplant priming of hematopoietic cells leads to faster recovery of all hematopoietic lineages. Equally important, donor cell priming before transplant may represent a highly cost-effective alternative to constant administration of cytokines during the posttransplant recovery period.

scholarly journals Hyperactive Nras and Dose Reduction of Tet2 Collaborate to Dys-Regulate Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Promote Leukemogenesis

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1204-1204
Author(s):  
Xi Jin ◽  
Tingting Qin ◽  
Nathanael G Bailey ◽  
Meiling Zhao ◽  
Kevin B Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Double Mutant ◽  
Mutant Mice ◽  
Cytokine Signaling ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Single Mutant ◽  
Tet2 Mutation

Abstract Activating mutations in RAS and somatic loss-of-function mutations in the ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) are frequently detected in hematologic malignancies. Global genomic sequencing revealed the co-occurrence of RAS and TET2 mutations in chronic myelomonocytic leukemias (CMMLs) and acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs), suggesting that the two mutations collaborate to induce malignant transformation. However, how the two mutations interact with each other, and the effects of co-existing RAS and TET2 mutations on hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function and leukemogenesis, remains unknown. In this study, we generated conditional Mx1-Cre+;NrasLSL-G12D/+;Tet2fl/+mice (double mutant) and activated the expression of mutant Nras and Tet2 in hematopoietic tissues with poly(I:C) injections. Double mutant mice had significantly reduced survival compared to mice expressing only NrasG12D/+ or Tet2+/-(single mutants). Hematopathology and flow-cytometry analyses showed that these mice developed accelerated CMML-like phenotypes with higher myeloid cell infiltrations in the bone marrow and spleen as compared to single mutants. However, no cases of AML occurred. Given that CMML is driven by dys-regulated HSC function, we examined stem cell competitiveness, self-renewal and proliferation in double mutant mice at the pre-leukemic stage. The absolute numbers of HSCs in 10-week old double mutant mice were comparable to that observed in wild type (WT) and single mutant mice. However, double mutant HSCsdisplayed significantly enhanced self-renewal potential in colony forming (CFU) replating assays. In vivo competitive serial transplantation assays using either whole bone marrow cells or 15 purified SLAM (CD150+CD48-Lin-Sca1+cKit+) HSCs showed that while single mutant HSCs have increased competitiveness and self-renewal compared to WT HSCs, double mutants have further enhanced HSC competitiveness and self-renewal in primary and secondary transplant recipients. Furthermore, in vivo BrdU incorporation demonstrated that while Nras mutant HSCs had increased proliferation rate, Tet2 mutation significantly reduced the level of HSC proliferation in double mutants. Consistent with this, in vivo H2B-GFP label-retention assays (Liet. al. Nature 2013) in the Col1A1-H2B-GFP;Rosa26-M2-rtTA transgenic mice revealed significantly higher levels of H2B-GFP in Tet2 mutant HSCs, suggesting that Tet2 haploinsufficiency reduced overall HSC cycling. Overall, these findings suggest that hyperactive Nras signaling and Tet2 haploinsufficiency collaborate to enhance HSC competitiveness through distinct functions: N-RasG12D increases HSC self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation, while Tet2 haploinsufficiency reduces HSC proliferation to maintain HSCs in a more quiescent state. Consistent with this, gene expression profiling with RNA sequencing on purified SLAM HSCs indicated thatN-RasG12D and Tet2haploinsufficiencyinduce different yet complementary cellular programs to collaborate in HSC dys-regulation. To fully understand how N-RasG12D and Tet2dose reduction synergistically modulate HSC properties, we examined HSC response to cytokines important for HSC functions. We found that when HSCs were cultured in the presence of low dose stem cell factor (SCF) and thrombopoietin (TPO), only Nras single mutant and Nras/Tet2 double mutant HSCs expanded, but not WT or Tet2 single mutant HSCs. In the presence of TPO and absence of SCF, HSC expansion was only detected in the double mutants. These results suggest that HSCs harboring single mutation of Nras are hypersensitive to cytokine signaling, yet the addition of Tet2 mutation allows for further cytokine independency. Thus, N-RasG12D and Tet2 dose reduction collaborate to promote cytokine signaling. Together, our data demonstrate that hyperactive Nras and Tet2 haploinsufficiency collaborate to alter global HSC gene expression and sensitivity to stem cell cytokines. These events lead to enhanced HSC competitiveness and self-renewal, thus promoting transition toward advanced myeloid malignancy. This model provides a novel platform to delineate how mutations of signaling molecules and epigenetic modifiers collaborate in leukemogenesis, and may identify opportunities for new therapeutic interventions. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Slug deficiency enhances self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells during hematopoietic regeneration

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (9) ◽  
pp. 1709-1717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Sun ◽  
Lijian Shao ◽  
Hao Bai ◽  
Zack Z. Wang ◽  
Wen-Shu Wu
Keyword(s):  
Hematopoietic Cells ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Steady State Condition ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Novel Strategy

Abstract Both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms tightly govern hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) decisions of self-renewal and differentiation. However, transcription factors that can selectively regulate HSC self-renewal division after stress remain to be identified. Slug is an evolutionarily conserved zinc-finger transcription factor that is highly expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells and is critical for the radioprotection of these key cells. We studied the effect of Slug in the regulation of HSCs in Slug-deficient mice under normal and stress conditions using serial functional assays. Here, we show that Slug deficiency does not disturb hematopoiesis or alter HSC homeostasis and differentiation in bone marrow but increases the numbers of primitive hematopoietic cells in the extramedullary spleen site. Deletion of Slug enhances HSC repopulating potential but not its homing and differentiation ability. Furthermore, Slug deficiency increases HSC proliferation and repopulating potential in vivo after myelosuppression and accelerates HSC expansion during in vitro culture. Therefore, we propose that Slug is essential for controlling the transition of HSCs from relative quiescence under steady-state condition to rapid proliferation under stress conditions. Our data suggest that inhibition of Slug in HSCs may present a novel strategy for accelerating hematopoietic recovery, thus providing therapeutic benefits for patients after clinical myelosuppressive treatment.

scholarly journals A novel conditioning-free hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model in zebrafish

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (24) ◽  
pp. 6189-6198
Author(s):  
Ellen Fraint ◽  
María Feliz Norberto ◽  
Teresa V. Bowman
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cell Transplantation ◽  
Marrow Cell ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Hsc Niche ◽  
Transplantation Model ◽  
Marrow Cells

Abstract Transplantation is the most common assay for measuring the in vivo functionality of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Although various HSC transplantation strategies have been developed in zebrafish, they are underutilized because of challenges related to immune matching and preconditioning toxicity. To circumvent these limitations, we developed a simple and robust transplantation model using HSC-deficient hosts. Homozygous runx1W84X mutants are devoid of definitive hematopoietic cells, including HSCs and adaptive immune cells; thus, they require no preconditioning regimen for transplantation. Marrow cell transplantation into runx1-mutant zebrafish 2 days after fertilization significantly improved their survival to adulthood and resulted in robust, multilineage, long-lasting, serially repopulating engraftment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that engraftment into runx1 homozygous mutants was significantly higher than into runx1 heterozygotes, demonstrating that the improved transplantation success is attributable to the empty HSC niche in mutants and not just the embryonic environment. Competitive transplantation of marrow cells into runx1 mutants revealed a stem cell frequency similar to that of murine marrow cells, which demonstrates the utility of this model for quantifying HSC function. The streamlined approach and robustness of this assay will help broaden its feasibility for future high-throughput transplantation experiments in zebrafish and will enable further novel discoveries in the biology of HSCs.

scholarly journals Clonal-level lineage commitment pathways of hematopoietic stem cells in vivo

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1447-1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Lu ◽  
Agnieszka Czechowicz ◽  
Jun Seita ◽  
Du Jiang ◽  
Irving L. Weissman
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem Cell ◽  
Lineage Commitment ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Hematopoietic System ◽  
Different Levels

While the aggregate differentiation of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) population has been extensively studied, little is known about the lineage commitment process of individual HSC clones. Here, we provide lineage commitment maps of HSC clones under homeostasis and after perturbations of the endogenous hematopoietic system. Under homeostasis, all donor-derived HSC clones regenerate blood homogeneously throughout all measured stages and lineages of hematopoiesis. In contrast, after the hematopoietic system has been perturbed by irradiation or by an antagonistic anti-ckit antibody, only a small fraction of donor-derived HSC clones differentiate. Some of these clones dominantly expand and exhibit lineage bias. We identified the cellular origins of clonal dominance and lineage bias and uncovered the lineage commitment pathways that lead HSC clones to different levels of self-renewal and blood production under various transplantation conditions. This study reveals surprising alterations in HSC fate decisions directed by conditioning and identifies the key hematopoiesis stages that may be manipulated to control blood production and balance.

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